Leonardo Gomes da FonsecaDivision of Medical Oncology, Institute of Cancer of the state of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| leogfonseca@hotmail.com

Romualdo Barroso-SousaDivision of Medical Oncology, Institute of Cancer of the state of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Jorge SabbagaDivision of Medical Oncology, Institute of Cancer of the state of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Paulo Marcelo HoffDivision of Medical Oncology, Institute of Cancer of the state of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

A 55-year old man was treated with sunitinib 50 mg/day for 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off, as a first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. During the fourth week of the first cycle, he was admitted to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain and vomiting. Acute acalculous cholecystitis was diagnosed. Sunitnib-associated cholecystitis is a rare adverse event previously reported in few cases. The mechanism behind this complication is not fully understood, although vascular endothelial dysfunction may play a role. The use of this drug is expanding in clinical oncology, and physicians should be aware of this life-threating adverse event.